2012 CHRISTENSON FAMILY CHRISTMAS VIDEO

My gift to my family for Christmas.

WINTER SOLSTICE MORNING: 12.21.2012

Today was predicted  to be the "End of the World".

The Mayan Calendar supposedly ended today.

To "observe" this day,  I went for a very early, very dark, and very cold hike

to the top of some mountains above Salt Lake City.

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Early morning twilight with the planet and stars still visible.

The lesser lights make way for the greater light.. the sun.

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At exactly 8:00 AM (the number 8 is symbolic),

the sun began to rise above the peak of a mountain in the distance.
Instead of the world ending, it actually is a beginning. The beginning of a new Day.

THE COMING OF THE FULNESS OF THE SUN

photos taken of sunrise over Mt.Olympus near our home.

CHRISTMAS CARD

2012 Christmas Card

DESERT LANDSCAPE

photos taken in Southern Utah by St. George where there are many Native American petroglyphs

Fun with Daddy's Shaving Cream

photos taken a few days ago on November 28, 2012 at bathtime

Since I don't shave very often... we have plenty of shaving cream left over for Eden to make a mohawk. Good times in the tub.

LIVE NATIVITY

Photos taken last night on 11/28/2012 at a Live Navitity

 My family and I went to a live nativity last night that is put on by a stake in Salt Lake City. Tonight is the last night it will be held. Several couples who recently had a baby are selected to play Mary and Joseph with their newborn.  The nativity is complete with live camels, sheep, goats, and donkeys. The stake that puts this on does a wonderful job and only do this every other year.

If you are interesting in going, the stake center that is located at is 11700 South and 700 West. Runs from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM

THANKSGIVING SUNSET

photo taken of the sunset on Thanksgiving eve on November 21, 2012

exactly one month before the winter solstice on December 21.

THANKSGIVING DINNER

photo taken on Thanksgiving on November 23, 2012

One of the best holidays of the year and one of the best places to celebrate it.
Up in the mountains with snow outside and a fire burning inside.

AN ANGEL SHALL SOUND HIS TRUMP

photo taken of the sun behind the Angel Moroni on the Brigham City Temple

on a cloudy day.

And the remnant shall be gathered unto this place;

And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come;

and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven,

clothed with power and great glory;

 with all the holy angels;

and he that watches not for me shall be cut off.

 But before the arm of the Lord shall fall,

an angel shall sound his trump,

and the saints that have slept shall come forth to meet me in the cloud.

Doctrine and Covenants 45:43-45

MIST

The below four photos were taken this summer on an early morning hike in the mountain in California.

A friend of mine shared the following with me.

The Definition of the word Mist in the 1828 Webster's Dictionary: That which dims or darkens, and obscures or intercepts vision.

We always think of it as the cloud w/tiny droplets of moisture, but this one puts a whole new, independent way to see the "mist of darkness" in Lehi's dream. I thought the phrase "obscures/intercepts vision" was very interesting.

WINTER STORM

photo taken on 11/11/12 of the Wasatch Mountains from our street.

 This weekend was the first big snow storm of the year. We received close to two feet of snow at our home. It was a beautiful weekend. I love the snow.

MEDFORD OREGON TEMPLE

photo taken on October 22, 2012

 There is a somewhat painful story connected to this photo. Lets just say that there is opposition in all things.

SMASHING A PINATA PUMPKIN

photo taken of my daughter Sarah at her 9th Birthday Party on November 3, 2012

A fun way to celebrate a"Birthday around Halloween time is to have a pumpkin pinata. At my daughter's Halloween Birthday party, we filled up a pumpkin with candy and had the kids take turns trying to bust it open. It took over 100 swings to finally get it to break. It was the funnest thing we did at the party.

 I am sure after yesterday election results there are many people who could use a good swing or two to release some pented up frustration. 

ELECTION DAY 2012

photo taken at UVU in Provo on October 18, 2012

Sure wish I could hear this man say the following words on Monday, January 21, 2013.
"I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of United States, and will to the best of my ability, PRESERVE, PROTECT, and DEFEND the Constitution of the United States,  so help me God."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH

Today is my daughter Sarah's 9th Birthday

She is so filled with light. She wakes up early every morning happy.

She is spunky little girl. I am so grateful to have her as one of my daughters.

I love you.

Daddy

HAWKS

Photos taken of a few hawks that I saw on my trip in Oregon taken thru Oct 19-22, 2012

THE POWER TO FLY

photos taken of a F-15 Fighter Jet

I don't particularly like dressing up for Halloween... but if I had to, I think it would be really cool to be a F-15 Jet Fighter Pilot for the day. I took this pict on a AF Base about a week ago. I have always wanted to fly, and for some, it is reality. Man has accomplished the incredible technology to fly through the sky... however, it pales in comparison to the Power of God. 

Sidenote: This is a really cool video that one of my friend sent me.. flying with birds. 

 

FIRE, SMOKE, VAPORS, AND CLOUDS

photos taken near Klamath Falls, Oregon on Oct. 22, 2012

fire

vapors of smoke

clouds of heaven

Doctrine and Covenants 45: 40-44

"And they shall see signs and wonders, for they shall be shown forth in the heavens above, and in the earth beneath.  And they shall behold blood, and fire, and vapors of smoke

And then they shall look for me, and, behold, I will come; and they shall see me in the clouds of heaven, clothed with power and great glory; with all the holy angels; and he that watches not for me shall be cut off."

JEDEDIAH SMITH REDWOOD FOREST

Photos taken on October 19, 2012 of large Redwoods Trees

(hard to comprehend how enormous these trees are until you see someone stand next to the trees)

Fallen Tree with exposed roots.

LIGHTHOUSE: A GUIDING LIGHT IN THE STORM

Photo taken on October 19, 2012  St. George Lighthouse off the coast

of Battery Point in Crescent City, CA.

About ten miles from the Jedediah Smith Redwoods, is the coastal city of Crescent City. A storm was coming in when I arrived. I learned a little history about this lighthouse and harbor. I think it is extremely symbolic.
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In 1855, the ship 'America' burned in the harbor at Crescent City. Three cannons were salvaged from the wreckage and mounted nearby on the point at the northern side of the harbor's entrance. The cannons, which were often fired during Fourth of July celebrations, resulted in the point being named Battery Point. Although the cannons have since disappeared, the name remains affixed to the point.

In that same year, Congress appropriated $15,000 for the construction of this lighthouse at Battery Pont which now provides the needed the harbor light required for safe nighttime navigation.

ONE TRIP.. FOUR SEASONS.. MANY SYMBOLS

"SPRING"

photo taken on drive from Klammath Falls to Medford on October 22, 2012

"SUMMER"

photo taken on a hike in Stout Memorial Grove in the California Redwoods on October 19, 2012

"FALL"

photo taken along the highway near Klammath Lake on October 20, 2012

"WINTER"

photo taken on the rim of Crater Lake on October 21, 2012

CRATER LAKE and WIZARD ISLAND

Photos of Crater Lake and Wizard Island taken on October 21, 2012

I just returned home from an amazing trip to Oregon to visit my "brother" before he and his wife leave the country for a few years. The only bad thing about the trip was that my wife was not with me. She would have loved it, and I hope to take my family up there soon.
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I will be posting several pictures from the trip over the next week or so.
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These photos are taken along the rim of Crater Lake. It had just recently snowed which made for some dangerous driving conditions. Crater Lake is in the bowl of the Mt. Mazama volcano. This volcano erupted many thousands of years ago and over time, the inside of the volcano filled up with water from rain and snowmelt ..thus, creating this beautiful blue lake. It is considered the deepest lake in the United States. I was hoping to jump in to say I swam in the deepest lake, but the weather didn't permit it. :(  All the more reason to go back up there again.
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Hugh Nibley in his memoirs has mentioned that he used to go swimming out to Wizard Island when he was growing up.

DADDY DAUGHTER DATE

I look forward every year when I take my daughters out on a date for their Birthday. Last night I took my daughter Brooke always picks the really fun and adventurous activities. Dinner at In nOut Burger and then we went racing on an indoor track with go-carts that reach the speed of 40 miles per hour.

She is a great driver for only being 12. Watch out Danica Patrick.

EDEN TURNS ONE YEAR OLD!

Hard to believe a whole year has passed since Eden came into our family.

She has been such a joy to us.

Happy Birthday Eden.